Mid-Term Election Reflections: Implications for Rural & Small-Town Communities

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The demographics of rural America are changing: nine out of ten rural areas are more ethnically diverse than they were 20 years ago. Many who live and work in rural communities are striving to promote participatory civic engagement, challenge structural inequity and racism, and foster transition to economies that sustain both people and the environment.

Philanthropy has a role to play in shaping an equitable, sustainable, and resilient future for rural and small-town American communities, one that is led and informed by the assets, needs, and many resources of local residents. Two recent scans—one released by NFG and entitled “Voices from the Field: Rural Organizers on What They Need From Funders,” and the other the Wallace Global Fund’s “All the People, All the Places: A Landscape of Opportunity for Rural and Small Town Civic Engagement“—underscore the importance of rural and small-town communities in power building and organizing at the intersection of land, people, and the environment. Based on learning from the field, the reports provide recommendations for those making philanthropic investments in this space.

Whether your organization has many investments in rural communities or you are still puzzling out what the term “rural” really means, we invite you to join this dynamic webinar series and explore opportunities to learn from, lift up, and support innovative and equity-promoting work in rural and small-town communities across the country.Who is this webinar for? If you are a foundation leader (staff or board member) currently funding in rural communities across the country or interested in funding in rural communities and small-towns, you are encouraged to attend.Please direct questions to Adriana Rocha, vice president of programs at Neighborhood Funders Group, or Susie DiMauro, program manager at Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders.